Sand-cleaning attachment for sand-distributers.



I. A. GIBBS.-

SAND CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR SAND DISTRIBUTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC A. GIBBS, or ROANOKEQ,

VIRGINIA, AssIoNoR or ONE-HALF TO JOHN nose, or

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

SAND-CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOB SAND-DISTRIBUTERS.

To all whom'it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo A. GIBBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, int-he county of Roanoke and 5 State of Virg'mia,'.have=' invented a new and useful Sand-Cleaning Attachment for Sand- Distributers, of whlch the following is a specification.

The present invention. relates to an "imp-rovement in cleaning" or agitating devices for the distributing pipes of sand boxes.

The PrimaryobJeCt of the invention is to provide a construction which may be supplied with airto prevent choking in the distributing pipe, and to agitate the sand at the mouth of the box.- 1 1 A'further object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which the sand blast dir'ec ted to the cleaner will be choked off fromthe box, the construction being such that'while a suflicient quantity ofair is allowed to go up through the trap, thereby cleaning out the same, that the same will not have sufiicient force to blow the cover of sand box off.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appearias the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementof parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, w it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thevscope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the'drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation, showing thedevice connected to the distributing pipe ofa-locomotive sand box.

Fig. 2 is a section taken through the boiler,

' the device. Fig. 4' is a vertical section, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the removable coupling which is secured to the dlstrlbut- 5 ing'pipe of the sandbox, and to which is passes. a

In the drawings, 10 designates the sand box which is provided with the outlet 11 from which projects the pipe 12, the terminalof which is screw threaded. A coupling 14 which is provided with the screw F threaded bore 13 receives the screw threaded terminalof the pipe 12. This coupling member is provided with the apertured ears 15 and the hollow substantially conical ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

of the locomotive. n, Fig. 3 is an elevation of secured the chamber throughwhi ch the sand tension 16. The cylinder or casing 17 is provided with the apertured cars 18, the ears 15 of the coupling and the ears 18 of the casing being secured together by screws 19, the conical extension 16 extending within the casing 17, the wall 20 of said conical extension being disposed at a greater angle to the body portion of the coupling1 than the wall 21, thus tending to direct e sand to the wall 22 of the casing 17 The coupling member 14 is provided with the bifurcated arm 24 between the bifurcations of which is supported the flap valve 25, the extension 26 of said valve being arranged between said bifurcations, a pin 27 passing through the bifurcations and the extension 26. The flap valve 25 is provided with the flat face 28, its body portion 29 being tapered, the face 30 being formed with the concavity 31, the valve being formed with the central re- Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

Application filed June 24, 1912. serialize. 705,607.

stricted passage 32. The casing is formed with the chamber 33 on which the valve member-25 normally rests, the .wall 34 of said chamber being disposed at an angle to the wall of the casing with which the same is preferably formed integral.

The chamber 33 is provided with an out? let 35,- the casing being formed with the extension 36 which is connected to the air supply pipe 37, the pipe 37 bein connected to a suitable air supply, prefera ly the .air pump of a locomotive, air in this manner being supplied to the chamber 33.

If it 1s desired to supply sand through the distributing pipe 38 and it is found that the pipe 12 or the passage way 39 has become choked, the valve (not shown) is opened and air admitted to the chamber 33. The air pressure is directed against the concave face of' the valve, forcing said valve upward until its fiat face 28 contacts with the open end 40 of the coupling member. The air enters the casing, forcing the sand out of the same through the distributing pipe to the track, a certain quantity passing through the restricted opening 32 of the said opening being sufficient to agitate the sand disposed in the conical member and in the pipe 12, attention being called to the flap valve 25, this air which passes through screw-threaded to receive the plug17", it being noted that access may be had to the interior of the cylinder in this manner.

The many advantages of a construction of this character will be clearly apparent as it will be noted that the same provides means for clearing the distributer adjacent its delivery end. It will also be noted that when the sand blast is directed within the casing, should the sand outlets have been previously opened, the same will immediately supply sand to the rails.

Particular attention is called to the. fact that the entire construction is such as may be 'easily and economically manufactured and that the same may be applied to sand boxes and distributing pipes, Without altering their construct-ion or in any way interfering with their usual method of operation, the device being readily positioned on the sand distributer pipe, and being readily removed for the purpose of repair.

What is claimed is 1. A device for cleaning the sand distributing pipes of locomotives, comprising a coupling Which is threaded to receive the delivery pipe from the locomotive sand box, a casing secured to said coupling, said coupling being formed with a conical extension arranged to extend within said casing, a bifurcated arm supported by said coupling, a valve member supported between the bifurcations of said arm, one face of said valve member being flat the opposite face of the same being concaved, a chamber arranged Within the casing and in communication With an air supply, one wall of said chamber being disposed at an angle to the Wall of the casing, said wall forming a support for saidvalve member, said wall and valve member being formed with openlngs. I

2. A device for cleaning the sand distributing pipes of locomotives, comprising a coupling threaded to receive the delivery pipe of the'locomotive sand pipe, a casing supported by said coupling, said coupling being formed with a conical extension arranged to extend within said casing, a valved apertured closure for said extension, and an air inlet for the casing, the air admitted to the casing lifting said valve member to close the conical extension, a small quantity of air being admitted to the outlet pipe of the sand box, the main blast of air being directed through the distributing pipe.

3. A cleaning attachment for the sand distributing pipes of locomotives, comprising a coupling threaded to receive the distributing pipe of the locomotive sand box, a casing supported by said coupling, said coupling being formed with a conical extension disposed Wit-hin said casing, a closure for the extension pivotally supported by the coupling, and means for introducing air to the casing, a' small volume of the air thus admittedpassing through the delivery pipe of the sand box, the major portion of theair being pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

ISAAC A. GIBBS.

Witnesses:

C. Enw. Proms, L. R. Pioxnns.

directed through the distributing. 

